Russ Feingold, Potential Senate Candidate, Rips Democrats For 'Corruption'

[babsbunny]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/russ-feingold-potential-senate-candidate-rips-democrats-for-corruption.php

Benjy Sarlin | May 17, 2011, 12:48PM

Ousted from the Senate in 2010, Russ Feingold, may have fewer Democratic friends to count on if he chooses to enter the race to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI). The progressive icon eviscerated his former colleagues in an e-mail for his advocacy group Progressive United on Tuesday, accusing two prominent Democrats of enabling "corruption" by opposing new transparency measures on political donations.

"This culture of corporate influence and corruption is precisely what we as Progressives United want to change," he wrote. "So we've decided to take on those legislators who are unwilling to stand up to corporate power, and we're naming names."

[iwishiwas]

1. Thanks Russ. He named Hoyer and McCaskill and .....

3 Repugs.





The names included House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). In addition, the email targeted Sens. Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-CA).

Feingold accused the group of backing "corporate interests in Congress" by opposing an executive order under discussion in the White House that would require government contractors to reveal their political donations.

"If we make contributions public, we can hold legislators and contractors accountable. We can shine the bright light of transparency on the whole practice of awarding government contracts, so the American people can truly see what is going on,"he wrote. "Let's start by holding the defenders of corruption accountable to their constituents right now."..........

[madrchsod]

2. got the email today....

i agree with russ and i hope he runs again for the senate. we need someone like him to call out the cowards .

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Ask Russ why he voted for the Health Insuance bill and all of a sudden was given

high speed transit.... he had his price.

[dgauss]

5. I don't get your insinuation

Are you saying Feingold is a "for sale" politician if the price is right?

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. i thought I was clear. Vote for bill he was Against and gets high speed transit money.

[dgauss]

7. Yes, he came out against the bill as not going far enough.

He definitely made statements suggesting he wouldn't vote for a bill without the public option, he didn't see the point. To me it seemed like he was genuinely representing a progressive point of view, vocally, up to the point where he was simply defeated and voted for the meager improvement instead of voting against it. Maybe you don't see his original position as a genuine, but more of a posture to up the price for his vote.

He ended up voting for the bill after fighting for a stronger one. I honestly have no idea regarding the connection between that vote and the funds for high speed transit; I don't doubt there could be a connection. But to reduce this to saying Feingold "has his price" seems to be unduly disparaging.

[ProSense]

4. "Feingold accused the group of backing

'corporate interests in Congress' by opposing an executive order under discussion in the White House that would require government contractors to reveal their political donations."

I Support President Obama On This Executive Order

[midnight]

8. Feingold speaking up about issues that negatively impact his constituancy

is what has made him a leader here in Wisconsin. K&R

[bvar22]

9. He will get my money and support.

:patriot: